Legoland

For many English tourists, the stately raised walls of Windsor Castle are the great landmark in this area of England. But for just as many others (most of them, admittedly, not yet in their teenage years) it is the plastic yellow walls atop another hillside not far from the Queen's ancient castle that make their hearts race with excitement. At the sight of the sign for Legoland, parents will have a slightly different reaction involving a sudden contraction in their back pocket as their money leaks steadily out.

After a drive of a few hours involving a bossy sat nav system and a curious route by most of the inner west of London, we arrived on a bleak Bank Holiday Monday at the Legoland Hotel carpark. Giant Lego figures guard the hotel entrance and the foyer is tucked under the prow of a massive Lego boat. As you enter, you see a pit of Lego being swarmed by small children. Behind the long reception desk is a collection of what must surely be all the Lego minifigures ever made. Row after row of the little icons take up the entire wall. A discreet giftshop tucked into one corner gives absolutely no insight into just how much Lego we will find for sale within the park later. We head up to our room. We missed out on a premier room (where literally everything is Legoed from the sheets through to the curtains) but still there is a box of lego waiting to be made and creatures made of Lego all through the room, which is themed Adventure. Off to the park!

The park is huge. We spent almost two days and still managed to miss quite a few rides. The most amazing part of the experience is the vast array of statues made from actual Lego. Finn and Sean are on a camel outside the Raiders laser shooting ride (above left)  and the life size knight and horse above can be found outside the massive fake castle within the grounds.




Finn making a Lego racer. The boys then got the chance to race against each
other and other kids on a small racetrack.

 


 Duck ahoy! A silly duck made out of Lego.

 

On the second day, we had more rides and fun and also had another turn in the massive Big shop making our own minfigures. What fun! And of course with Daddy away in Oxford that day, the boys managed to con Mummy into buying them an extra set of Lego each. It was a wonderful adventure.